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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2383499" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 124, “Negotiations with a madman”, Friday, January 13th, 1882:Kate updated Flint on what had happened in the bank, let him know that the wagon had been sold, and discussed the timber needs with him. "How is the stock doing so far?" she asked finally. "Seem to be doing okay, not that I really know what I'm doing. So far I've just been getting them food and water.  Now if you're going to be helping me with the ranch I have one big favor to ask. Tomorrow night is Moradin's Day, one of the high holiest days on the Dwarven Calendar, where we celebrate our race's top deity. All dwarves are supposed to congregate and celebrate together on that day. It would be sacrilege for me to spend it here watching a bunch of horses and cows, but I'm afraid if I go off and leave them they won't be here when I come back. Could any of you guys help me out?" Kate feels a hand lightly press on her shoulder, even though nobody is there. She then hears Sonoma’s voice whisper into her ear "Our teacher wanted to come check out this land that we have purchased. I'm sure that he could to watch the animals." Kate's heart nearly jumped out of her chest when Sonoma's voice began whispering in her ear. She hoped the shock didn't show on her face. "I think we can arrange that, Flint. I've been wanting to take some time and check the horses health and training, and tomorrow is the first day in quite a while that I don't already have plans for. When do you need someone here in the morning, and until how late?"Flint replies "Well I doubt the celebrations in town will get started until mid to late afternoon and will probably last until all the bars in town are closed. I'll probably stay in town overnight so it would be Sunday morning until I make it back here. "We'll manage it. It will be nice to be out here where it's quiet for a while."  Kate looked back over toward poor Mr. Martin and Cole. "I'm not sure which part of his day was worse. Getting shot, or starting that conversation."Booth replies "Could be worse, at least Martin started by asking about bounty hunting, so Cole skipped the whole part about his war years. That will cut down his tale by at least an hour. At least Martin has been perceptive enough to not try to end the conversation. That could prove to be dangerous."  The others spend the next forty-five minutes walking around the ranch and seeing the improvements that Flint has continued to make. There is no question that this grizzled and scruffy drawf has a strong work ethic and is very industrious. Cole finally finishes his tale and Chester then excuses himself to find the nearest outhouse or equivalent thereof. Booth take the lead and heads back over. He tells Cole "While you were talking to Martin we took the liberty of loading up the corpse in the casket. We also filled all of your water jugs and loaded on two bales of hay."  Cole just nods. He then heads to he back of the wagon to check the body and compare it to the picture on the wanted poster. He holds the poster close so that the others do not see but the invisible Sonoma manages to get a glimpse of it. She returns to Kate and whispers "The reward is for $ 500".Katherine took a few casual steps away from the others, trying to look as if she were just bored. She then began whispering, hoping Sonoma had followed. "I already agreed to accept $75, but that is a paltry percentage of $500. I'm not certain about trying to renegotiate though. Mr. Booth has indicated this is not a man to be trifled with, and at this point I'm sure Mr. Martin would agree. Let's see. He had to purchase the wagon and horses, so I'll allow about $100 for that. The remaining $400 split evenly would then make $200 for him and $200 for us. What do you think?"“That should be fair, "Sonoma says,  She stops speaking for a minute humming slightly so that Kate knows that she's still there..." unless we want to make a deal with him that if any of our pictures ever come up for bounty that we get his word that he will never come for us... that may be worth more to all of us in the long run than the money especially with the stories he’s been telling us.Kate replies, "I would hope none of us would ever show up on a wanted poster. But considering what happened today at the bank, I can see how it might happen. If the Condon's weren't willing to say Jake was still working for them, he'd be recovering in a jail cell.  That might be easier to negotiate as well. I doubt he'd be amenable to giving us more money. Beside the fact that I don't know what cut Mr. Booth has factored in for himself. We'll have to cover the cost of more supplies for the Apache ourselves, they should get something closer to the real value of the bounty. Do you think Nanuet will mind that?" Sonoma says, “I think we can find a way to cover the bounty ourselves.   I really think making sure that this man will never come after us is worth far more than the bounty itself.  Kate nodded, took a deep breath, and walked over to the wagon.  She spoke with all the confidence she could find. "Mr. Cole. After we made our arrangement I was able to learn the value of the bounty. I am willing to continue our financial arrangements as is, but in return for that disparity I would ask that you give me your word on something.  If you should ever see any of the people who made this trip today, or Miss Ruby West, Mr. Jacob Cooke, or Miss Sonoma Figueres on a bounty poster, you will not seek those bounties. It is a small promise, as it is unlikely any of us ever will appear on a bounty poster. With your agreement to this, I would consider our arrangement a bargain."Cole scratches his chin while he ponders this. He replies "You people seem like honest enough folk, but I hope you realize that a deal is a deal. Ain't no time for you to try adding extra conditions onto it now.  But I'm in a good mood today what with collecting Curly Bill so I'll agree not to hunt down any of the five of you in the future. I didn't catch the names of the Indian and dwarf here so let me know 'em and I'll add you to my 'no hunt' list."She replies, "Nanuet and Flint Greymountain. I appreciate your good mood, and although I'm not accustomed to making deals I do realize the additional request is unusual. But if we ever find ourselves in such a situation again, I'm sure we'd remember your generosity in agreement. Is there any way I could improve your good mood to extend over the other three I mentioned?" He replies "I think you're pushing your luck there Mrs. Kale, but I'm willing to do this. If one of those three who you mentioned is the person who has been hanging here under the magical cover I'll include them if they decide to show themselves."Sonoma removes the invisibility and is standing near the horses quietly with her hands folded.  "I believe that this agreement will benefit all parties. $425 is not a bad profit for transporting a corpse nor for us is the assurance that a man with such an ability in your chosen profession leave us to do as we need to with our lives. I will also offer you some other information if you choose to add that other names of my friends that have been listed that could become very profitable bounty for you in the direction that you are traveling.”"I'm listening" he says.  Sonoma replies, "There is an individual who many people have attempted to remove from power. He is dangerous and would likely be a target that other people would not be willing to attempt. However there are secrets that I know of that would be very beneficial to you, if you choose to attempt his bounty. The bounty would be enough to allow you to do what ever you choose for the rest of your life, however the names must be removed from your list first."He replies, "Sounds like a good enough deal to me. I assume you are the Miss Sonoma Figueres that Mrs. Kale spoke of. I have no reason to suspect that Jacob Silver Dollar Cooke will actually wind up on a wanted poster. The police in Kansas City were looking for him a while back, but that was just for questioning, there weren't any charges against him. And your friend Constance Grace West seems to have been clean until now.  But since we're now adding onto the deal I'll include one more thing too. There's a gambler in town by the name of Cornelius Van Horne. I've been sticking around town to find out who he really is under that magical disguise that he wears. If you find that out, and it turns out that there is a price on his head, then I expect you to wire me in Houston, Texas care of the Lucky Eight Saloon and let me know. "She replies, “Agreed.  The current leader of Mexico Manuel Gonzalas is not what he seems. The "person" in power is the result of a magical mirror. He will have some fairly powerful magical abilities and because of who he is will surround himself with men that he knows he can control but not trust. He will not wish women around him at all and his biggest weakness will be underestimating those that he sees as unimportant which seems to me to fit the persona that you have created for yourself.   Information useful for you I am sure.” With that Conrad Booth interjects "Well, now that we have reached agreement we'd best get on our separate ways. I know that these ladies have things to do back in town as have I." Cole gives Booth a dirty look, then shrugs his shoulders. He takes out a wad of money and peals off $ 75, which he hands to Katherine. While this is going on Flint collects Cole's riding horse and ties it to the back of the wagon. They all watch as Cole rides off to the east, to join up with the south road that heads on to New Mexico and then Texas. Once he is out of sight Booth breathes a sigh of relief. He then turns to Katherine and Sonoma and says "Are you two insane!" Katherine's knees felt weak, and she sat down on the ground with a thump. Her shoulders and her voice were both shaking. "Insane is the word I'd use. But a little luck pushing adds excitement to your life, don't you think?" she joked weakly.Sonoma replies, "What do you mean? The man is not very stable true but he wanted a challenge, other wise he would not be waiting for the Arcade Gang. Mexico is as far away as I could think of. It may take him years to realize a plan to even try to attack the President of Mexico and who would really believe the story that the president is some magic creation except for a person like him. He will not be around here for a very long time and if he does succeed I will find a way to pay him so there was nothing for me to truly loose except a dangerous man who already had us in a bind for not researching the bounty ourselves first.Also there was no real reason to kill us we out numbered him and he does not want to be on a bounty poster himself especially for killing women. there was more profit for him in the negotiation and if we don't look to see who the magic covered man is we are not going to be able to report back to him are we? we have lost nothing and gain quite a bit I think it was a good deal”   Conrad Booth just shakes his head "You two are just plain nuts! Go talk to your friend Martin, he's been listening for two hours worth of reasons why you don't want to play games with people like Cole."  Kate replies, "Sonoma's right. We had the advantage. But I offer you my apologies, Mr. Booth. I shouldn't have involved you in this."Nanuet who has been a silent guard up to this point laughs at Booth's comments.  "Sonoma, there you are!" Nanuet rushes over and gives the wood elf a suffocating embrace. He separates himself from her, and stares into her eyes. "I had been wondering where you had gone off to. I haven't seen you since the bank. I could feel your spirit, but had no idea where you were."  Nanuet pauses, wipes sweat off his brow, then continues "At least we got that chore out of the way. The money can be used on whatever we wish, I have already paid for the Apache supplies as well as the fencing for Flint. With all the rush for supplies after that silver claim was made I figured I had better take care of that. With the sale of the wagon and that money split up I have enough to live on for a while."Kate says, "I had intended to give you this money to cover those supplies, Nanuet. But if you would rather it went into the ranch, that can be done as well. I didn't know you'd already paid for the fencing as well. I was waiting to get the wagon money, it's why we went to the bank this morning. Thank you for doing that."  She sat quietly for a few moments more, taking deep breaths and putting herself back together. "Meribel," she called, and the mare walked over. Kate pushed herself up off the ground and climbed onto Meribel's back. "I'm ready to go home."  Sonoma interjects, “Me too. it is going to be a long night at the Lone Star with Ruby not going and Kate with a hurt hand I believe that "Louise" is going to do a lot more performing than she expected.”  Kate says, "I'll be able to play tonight, Ruby took care of my hand. Although I should still take it easy. But with Maggie there tonight she can do some of the playing." The five say goodbye to Flint and ride back to town. Booth goes to return the horse and says that he might see the others at the El Parador later for dinner if they are around. The other four ride back to the El Parador and secure the mounts in the stable. They head into the Cantina at approximately 4:30 PM. Kate slipped through the Cantina and back up to her room. Sonoma heads to the kitchen as she is starving and begins to whip up a huge meal for all of them especially Kate as she doesn't remember the last time she sat down to a full plate. While there she talks to Dorita about the upcoming night and asks if she will be willing to help Maggie out as Sonoma really wants Maggie to succeed and she's worried that with the bank robbery and no Ruby things may get a little busier than she can handle by herself tonight "although Kate thinks she'll be able to play I'm not sure about waiting tables and cooking too."Dorita says to her daughter (in Spanish) "All taken care of that. I will be running the kitchen at the Lone Star tonight so that you, Kate and Maggie never have to leave the main floor. Grandfather is heading out for the evening with his South American friends but before he goes he will stop by the Lone Star and toss some protection spells onto the back door and windows so that a guard will not be needed. Your main challenge tonight will be to keep that Alexsis woman from trying to take over the singing.  And don't you worry about things back here without us. Jose and Carlos have promised to make sure everything runs smooth tonight and tomorrow. They have a lot to make up to me for. Estaban can cover the music by himself and both Pepita and Angelica can help Pedro with the cooking."Kate quickly removed the riding clothes and got into a dress. Her hair was carefully brushed and pinned up, and she began to feel better. There was still the deed and a new dress to be picked up, and then she could rest. She went back downstairs to see if Sonoma or Nanuet wanted to go with her to the land office. Kate didn't see Sonoma or Nanuet downstairs. Before heading out, she peeked in the kitchen intending to ask Dorita if she'd seen either of them. Sonoma was there with her mother cooking a large amount of food. "Sorry to interrupt. Sonoma, I was just going to go over to the land office to pick up our deed. Did you want to come?"Sonoma and Kate head over to the land office. The place is much more organized than when they were there last. Dennis Winston has all of the paperwork ready for them. "Good afternoon, Mr. Winston. If you'll just show us what we need to do, we can finish this up and let you get back to your work. Although it looks as if you've caught up. Has the rush slowed?"  He says, "I'm doing okay. It has been a busy week. I'm looking forward to taking the next two days off. I'm glad you came by now. I was looking to close up early and get a quick bite before the evening stage leaves for Tombstone."  She replies, Katherine took a pen and began filling out the paperwork. "You're going to Tombstone for your days off? It seems to me you'll spend a great deal of your two days traveling."Nanuet comes into the land office a little behind the two women.  "Sorry, I was taking care of the horses, I must have just missed you" he says gasping for breath. "Is everything ready with the deed?" Winston says to Nanuet, "Just fine, we need your signature too. You can write can't you?" He then turns to Kate and says "I have to go to Tombstone to register all of these transactions. That's where the County Seat is located. All part of the job, but I'll at least be able to bill the Territory for the transportation and lodgings."  Kate replies, "I see. Well, I hope you enjoy your trip and have a quiet ride back and forth," she said, passing the pen to Nanuet. "We should have waited for you, Nanuet. I'm sorry." Nanuet looks a little uncomfortable handling the pen, but he is able to make his mark. "There you go" he says holding the pen and paper out for Winston. "I do feel strange owning land" he says. "It will be nice to have a place to call home though." Once Nanuet, Sonoma and Kate return to the El Parador she makes sure to serve them all up a good full meal. Chester arrives and joins them. Dorita then brings a tray of food up to Jake's room for him and Ruby, knocking gently on the door.Kate looked down at the full plate, certain that if she ate much of anything it wasn't going to stay put. Her stomach was still in knots from the day. The others were eating heartily, obviously hungry. Katherine picked at the meal, probably not swallowing more than a mouthful or two. She began talking about the ranch, asking Sonoma about building with adobe and how they go about it, and about how and when they would bring the sheep over.   Sonoma exclaims, you need to eat! I will tell you the answers to your questions only if you are putting food in your mouth! you are wasting away to nothing and I will not have you getting sick because you refuse to eat! Oh my I'm sounding just like my mother.”   Kate replies, "Sonoma!" she said, softly but surprised. "I really don't feel well. If I eat I'll be sick." Kate laid her hand against her stomach. Her clothes did seem to be getting a bit looser, but she just didn't have an appetite most of the time. Sonoma begins, “Adobe is very simple to build with and mix all it takes is mud and straw and sun all of which we have in abundance and some... um "things" that my great grandfather has shown me will make the work go very quickly.  The sheep should be due soon to arrive we may have to pick them up but they are really not a hard animal to deal shake a corn or grain bucket and they will follow you just about anywhere, we will want to make sure that there is an area prepared for them in Flint's cave where they will need to stay for a few days after we move them so that they will know where to go home to but other than that we do not have to worry about shearing or lambing for another couple of months.”  Kate replies, "We should get started on the building. I'd say this week, but something is supposed to happen. So the week after perhaps?"Dorita returns with Manuel. She says "We're off to the kitchen of the Lone Star." She turns to Kate and Sonoma and says "I'll see you both in an hour or so." The two wood elves head into then kitchen. Sonoma follows them and then returns. They soon come back out, him carrying a wooden box with assorted foodstuff and her with a large wicker basket full of spices and various little bottles of liquids and powders. They head out the front door. Kate watched Mr. Gonzales and Dorita leave, astonished. "Sonoma, do you know what those two are up to? Well, obviously they're going to help Maggie somehow, but what are they doing?"Sonoma says, “Well ummm....Mama is going to run the kitchen and my great grandfather is going to make sure that she isn't um.. disturbed doing it.”  Kate answers, "I know better than to ask for more details. But who will take care of things here?"  Sonoma replies, “The food has already been mostly prepared a couple of the girls will wait tables that mama trusts.  And the twins owe her so I can't see there being any problems and papa is still here too.”  Manuel Gonzales soon returns and hurries upstairs to his room, with a smile on his face and a skip in his step. Sonoma follows her great grandfather up stairs and knocks on his door.  "OK what are you up to? I've seen that look before and it usually means trouble and I'm not ready for any more trouble today." He opens the door and is wearing a three-piece suit, silk shirt with cuff links and silk bow tie and brand new and freshly shined black leather shoes. Sonoma tries to penetrate the illusion and then realizes that it isn't a magical illusion, the clothing is real. He says, "Well, do you like it?"  Sonoma replies, “You look wonderful but what is the occasion and what is her name?”He replies, “Oh no, nothing like that. I haven't taken up with any lady friends in weeks. I'm going out to dinner this evening with Simon and Antonio. In fact, Antonio was kind enough to purchase this clothing for me. I can't tell you any more right now but please ask Katherine to check with me in the morning. Thank you." And with that he hurries out the door and down the hallway to the series of rooms that the South American guests are staying in.  Sonoma shakes her head at her great grandfather and goes and changes for the Lone Star.  Nanuet enjoys the hearty meal that Sonoma had prepared for them. He was still tired from the events of the day and decided that some rest would do him good. Sonoma seemed very busy anyways, so he gathered his things and headed to the grove where he called Maska.  The two played together for a while, then Nanuet settled into an early reverie.As the dinner hour wrapped up, Katherine invited Mr. Martin to spend his evening at the Lone Star again and went upstairs to put her bustle in place. On a whim she decided to brush her hair out and let it hang loose. She was tempted to peek into Jake's room, but she knew Ruby was with him and if anything was wrong they would have heard about it. She continued on her way downstairs and met Sonoma for the walk to the Lone Star.</blockquote>

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